The Band's Levon Helm in 'final stages' of cancer battle

In this Nov. 27, 1976 file photo, The Band, Richard Manuel on piano, Levon Helm on drums, lead guitarist Robbie Robertson, center, and bass guitarist Rick Danko, take the stage for their final live performance before a crowd of 5,000 at Winterland Auditorium in San Francisco. A message posted Tuesday, April 17, 2012 on Levon Helm's website by his family says "Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer."

WOODSTOCK, N.Y.  Levon Helm, a former member of The Band, is in the final stages of his long battle with cancer.

A message posted Tuesday on the 71-year-old musician's website by his family says "Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer."

Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and the illness reduced his voice to a whisper. But he still continued to sing on albums and at rollicking concerts at his Woodstock home.

Helm was a key member of The Band and lent his distinctive Southern voice to classics like "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."

Original members of The Band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

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A great musical legacy from Arkansas. How many times have I listened to his music since the ...oh well I digress. I pray that he has made the right peace with his maker. It would be so good to hang out with this guy on the other side...Go for it, Levon...